Support your local Surf Life Saving club to win a new BP rescue boat

Six Surf Life Saving Clubs from across the country are asking
beach lovers to get online and help them win a new $25,000
Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB).

The orange inflatable rescue boats (IRBs) are familiar sights at
beaches across the country and help save hundreds of lives every
year. Last year alone, lifeguards across the country saved 1,027
lives - about 60% of those were using an IRB.

BP Oil NZ will provide two new boats - one in the North Island and
one in the South Island - to the two clubs that generate the most
votes.

To enter the competition, the clubs wrote to BP explaining how the
community would benefit from a new IRB. Each club has aging boats -
one doesn't have one at all - and it's difficult for voluntary
clubs to raise funds alone.

The six finalists are now working hard to drum up votes. Each has
had a video produced explaining their story and why they deserve to
win - and now it's up to the public to decide.

The six finalist clubs are:
From the North Island: Ngāti Porou, Pauanui, Otaki
From the South Island: South Brighton, Warrington and Brighton

"Every summer, around 4,000 volunteer lifeguards from the 74
Surf Life Saving Clubs patrol our beaches, and these trusty orange
boats are an essential part of our rescue equipment," said Surf
Life Saving New Zealand CEO Paul Dalton. "We've been partnering
with BP for over 45 years, and through their support, we've been
able to build up one of the most advanced rescue fleets in the
world."

"These boats work hard, and new boats are a significant
investment. So the chance to win a free one would be like Christmas
coming early for these communities."

BP spokesman Jonty Mills said the company was proud of the role
IRBs played in their communities.

"These boats can be the difference between life and death. Once
someone's in trouble in the water, the lifeguards know they have
about three minutes to get to them. These IRBs get them out beyond
the waves and to their rescue amazingly quickly."

"They're incredibly important, but we also know it's really
difficult for voluntary clubs to raise the funds for a new boat.
That's why we're so pleased to be able to offer two clubs the
chance to win. We'd urge everyone to get online, watch the videos,
and vote for their favourite club. This boat might just save your
life this summer."